Automotive machine and distant control therefor



June 30, 1931. 1,812,085

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR K.' DAVIS Fped Sept. 8,1926 13 Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR.

A TTORN S.

June 30, 1931. K. DAV-IS 1,

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Sept. 8, 1925 15Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

K. DAVIS lurvajil), I931.

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR 1 She'ets-Shet s mm\/vMm V R. M V A v A 9 n N VA \VVN Ex INVENTOR.

Filed Sept. 8, 1926 A T TO EYS.

K. DAVIS June 30,1931.

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledSept. 8, 1926 INVENTOR. MT-

BY r

v ATTOR K. DAVIS 1,812,085

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Sept. 8, 1926 15Sheets-Sheet 5 w kl M- INVENTOR.

June 30, 1931. K. DAVIS I 1 AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROLTHEREFOR Filed Sept. s, 19 6 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 nnnnr HFIFIH was g 30,1931. K. DAVIS I 1,812,085

AUTOMOTIVE MAGHINEAND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Sept. 8, 1925 15'Sheets-Shea 7 K. DAVIS 1,812,085

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT EIONTROL THEREFOR June 30, 1931.

Filed Sept. 8, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVEN TOR.

vm E m T A K DAVIS June 30, 1931.

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AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR June-3o, 1931;

Filed Sept. 8, 1926 Sheets-Sheet 1O June-30, 1931. K. DAVIS 1,812,085

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL Tr'manr'on Filed Sept. 8, 1926 13Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR.

K. DAVIS 1,812,085

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR June 30, 1931.

Filed Sept. 8, 1926 13 Sheets-Sheet 12,

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June 30, 1931. K. DAVIS 2,

AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND DISTANT CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Sept. 8, 1926 13Sheets-Sheet 15 I I a7e364, V ///Q -365 NVENITOR.

a Patented June 1931 v nUToMo'rIvE MACHI E Ann n rsrlin fr coiwrnot T ERFOR i fhpplicati'on filed September 8, 1926;" SeriaIINo. 134,219. I

The invention relates V to a distant and preferably stationaryfluid-pressure operated control oftheforward and backward travel andsteering-cl an automotive and 'di'rigible" i -inachine, and also to thefluid-pressure oper-j m iicalf-s ection'taken on the line, 15-15-of Iated automotive and vdirigible machine.

Objects and "advantages of the invention Will be set'forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obviousiherefrom, or may be learned bypractice With the inventiom'the same being reahzedf and attalned bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed" out in theappended claims.

constructions, and improvements herein shown The accompanying drawings,referred .to'

herein and constituting. a part hereof, illusand J togetherfvvith thedescription, serve to ex-* trate one embodiment of'the invention,

plainfthe principles of the invention.-

Of the draWing's':- g Fig. 1 is a side elevation offan automot vemachine constructed in accordance withthe invention,"

- Fin. 2 is avertical longitudin'al sections taken on the line 2QOfFigQB; 1 Fig. 3 is-a horizontal transverse" section takensubstantially on the line 3'3 of Figi'l; Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentary vertical section taken on the line et t of-Fig; 3;

Fig. 5 is a;fragmentary"enlarged, vertical, transverse section taken 5on the: line 5 5- of;

Fig; 6*is an enlarged, transversevertical motive and} section taken onthe line of'FigL-B;

' ,Fig'. '7 is a fragi'nentary,detached detail] fol/the shovel unloadingplate; Fig; 8 is an enlarged, transverse vert cal of the release sectionon the line 8 -8 Of'Fig. 3; y

Fig. 9 is fragmentary, enlargedivertical, longitudinal sectionon theline 99 of Fig. 31;

Fig.;l0 is a fragmentary,

' substantially on the lineflO -i-lO of Fig; 11 is a vertical,longitudinal section through an alternative form of motor;

1 g- 2 s afra mentarysectionbifh 2'0f Fig.

The invention consists-inf the novel'parts arrangements, combinations nddei ni'sin, taken on-line 20 -20 ofFig. 15.;

,or forward-travel and steered by -pressif1re operate'd distant control.

'verticalisection' I J t V p The inventionf in its broader aspectsisfurther appliedto 'sncha' distant, fiuid-zpres sur'e" controlling meansand" to such a fluid;

2ST. IBENEYDICTLIFENNSY'LVVANIA, w. SANDERS DAVIES, or New Yonmn. Y.,AND WILLIAM B. CAKES, or RUTHERFOR-D, NEW messy, AS T a-caress; a v V aF i'g. 13is a vertical, transverse section on theme; 13 1a of Fig, '11;1

f Figflt isa top plan of their e 16 16 ofFig. 14; s p Figs. '17,;18andil9 arefragmentary', sec-s FigsJQO, Zl 'and'QQ are correspondingviews of theothe'r port of the same Valve mechathe present embodi e tOfgthefluid-pressure control;

is'za vertical, transverse section on t onal mews representing threeposlt'lons of", one of the po'rtsiof the airpressure distance'zcont'rol' valve mechanism taken on line 17%17 0f-F1g.fl15;' I

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic viewof the entire s V modified forln-oftake-upfor the air conduits;

The'invention is directed primarily to the and automotive machine n andpreferably,

" production bt a stationary, fluid pressurei: 1 operated distant'control fOljK-EL dirigible- "although not necessarily," in conjunction4 therewith a fiuid-pressure-operated auto-c motive, machine, controlledin its backward the fluidunderst 0od,i-however, that the dirigible andlevel-bea autoinotive" messenger may be operated I byo'the'rthanfluid-pressure motive power; f

" One highlyusetul andfbeneficial"applicw tio'nffof the'fiuidJ-pressuredistant control, and v f lid-pre'ssure-operatedautos-i 1 ible *mach-in'econtrolled v n i i l A I 7 s tuations and under such condltions, the useof the two together glves perfect PIOtGCiLl-OII p'eratedi automotive*and' dirigib'le V pressu machine,

as laden' mines. 'In'" :such j,

90""v g g tinstaccidental gas ignition fr'onrsparking, 'which dangerconstitutes a disbarmenti llyfop'erated machines from many such minesy'v I 1 i adapted totaike-up alarg'e massof v Y loose'material,weighingmany hundredsof $1 5:

pounds, to separate the mass from the pile, and without tracks or otherexternal guiding means, to guide and convey it to a place of dischargeand there to eject it, usually to some other means of conveyance.

In thin seam mining, one of the most valuable applications of theinvention is in taking up large masses or quantities of shot-down coalat the room face, conveying such masses, under the guidance of thedistant control to the route of a skip conveyor, or other conveyor, andthere automatically discharging the conveyed coal to such conveyor.This, however, is only an exemplary application of the invention.

\Vith the fluid pressure distant control and the fluidpressure-operatedmachine all danger of igniting explosive gases in mines is avoided.Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the necessity for the attendantto travel on the machine in the low seams is likewise avoided, and theuse of any electric motors with the danger of gas-ignition from sparkingbrushes is avoided.

The invention as now preferably exem plarily embodied comprises as itsmain features a frame having endless traction treads at either sidethereof, and preferably a fluidpressurebperated motor for driving thetreads. In the driving connections between the motor and the endlesstraction treads are interposed a plurality of clutches, and theseclutches are thrown in ansout selectively, and partly alternatively, byfluid-pressureactuated means, the fluid pressure being controlled froma. distant, and preferably stationary, point.

The fluid pressure control comprises a series of pressure fluidconduits, going to therespective clutch-actuating devices, and controlsforthe floor of the pressure fluid located at the distant station,whereby the attendant may turn on and oil the fluid pressure from one ormore of the chitch-actuating devices, to produce the desired motion ordirection of the controlled machine. lhere is also preferably includedin the distant control device a conduit for the pressure fluid, fordriving the motor with a controlling means for this located also at thedistant station. The pressure fluid which will usually be emloyed isair, and in certain of its aspects the lnvention is limited to airpressure, while in other aspects thereof the invention is not solimited.

The distantly-operated, fluid-pressure control is preferably applied notonly to the endless traction treads, whereby either of these may bedriven in either direction and independently of each other, to progressthe machine either forwardly or baclrwardly and to steer the machine,but also to the mechanism for unloading the mass of material at theselected place of discharge. As embodied, a fl-uid-pressure-operatedclutch controls the movement of a pusher plate within the shovel and isdriven by the machine motor to eject the material from the shovel. Ifdesired, the fluid pressure will act directly on the shovel pusherinstead of applying the motor power thereto.

The foregoing general description of the main features of the invention,and the following detailed description of the construction andoperationof the present embodiment, are explanatory and exemplary of theinvention, but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention, illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings, the ma chine is providedwith bed plate 1, upon which the motor and the drives therefrom for thetraction treads and the shovel discharging plate are mounted. The motor2, which drives both traction treads in either directioi-i, and alsooperates the shovel discharging plate is mounted on the bed plate 1.

The reversible and independently operable drive for the traction treads,embodied, comprise a bevel pinion t fixed on the rear end of the motorspindle 3, which pinion meshes with a. bevel gear 5, fixed on a shaft 6,journaled at 7 and 8 in vertically-disposed, side-by-s-i-d-e framemembers 9 and 10 mount edon the bed plate 1.

Fixed also on the shaft 6 4). is apinion 11, which meshes with anintermediate gear 12, fixed on a stub shaft 13, which shaft 'issupported in the frame member 10. The

idle gear 12 meshes with a gear 16, fixed on a shaft 17, j o-urna-led at1.8 and 19 in a rearward extension of the vertically-disposed frameplates 9 and 10. The shaft 17 has aircontrolledclutch connections toboth endless traction treads, at either side of the machine, to drivethese treads in a given direction, either forwardly or backwardly. Theclutches could be worked by hand, if desired.

For the purpose of driving the endless treads in the opposite direction,as embodied, a. gearwheel 27 is in mesh with the gear wheel 16 (therebyrotating in the opposite direction), and gear 2? is fixed on a shaft 28,likewise journale'd in the rearward extension of the vertically-disposedframe plates 9 and 10. This shaft 28 likewise has air-controlled clutchconnections with driving means for both of the endless traction treadsat either side of the machine.

There is thus provided connections from the motor whereby the endlesstraction treads may bedriven either together or separately, and alsoindependently of each other, in either direction, thereby providingmeans for driving the machine either forw rdly or backwardly, or instraight or irregular paths, and enabling it to wheel or turn about aninternal center or axis.

Referring now to the drive from each of the gears 16 and 17,respectively, to both enclllil - side frame member 9,'the shaftextending outwardly therefrom (as best shown in 'Figs' and At thisoutward "extension of/the less traction treads," a detail description ofFigs, 2,-3,4,5 and 1 1) Taking for-example gear; wheel 27, it is fixedon'shatt 28 by key 29. Shaft 28 has preferably a'ball-bearing;

journal 30 in the rearward extension of the shai't28,;is a multiple-discclutch mechanism 31',- and anair-cylinder control there-for. l)

The air control for the foregoing clutch mechanism comprises a yokedlever 81, piv- 01? the member A compression coil spring 83"impelsthelever- 81 to .thenon clutehing positiorn The air-actuating means may beof any desired or suitable kind, sofar as concerns the mainfeatures ofthe in-j "As embodied an air cylinder withthe usual gages with rated ona support at 82, the-forked end'thereof bearing against theexternal'circularface vention.

piston or dashpot arrangement is shown in which'air is admitted into thecylinderon one side ofthe'piston to perform the required work andeXhaustedfrom-the cylinder to allow the piston to retract to itsinoperable p'o sition, i

The driving connections fromthe clutch:

to the Corresponding endless traction tread,

as embodied,compriseashafft 9,8,li1red to or integral with the housing51 of theclu-tch 81,1 and ournaled n a' i'r1ctron sleeve or sleeves88,;mount od in a long bearing 89iand' 90, in-

teg'ral with or supported bytheb ed plated} There are.verticallyfdisposed, longitudinally extending sideframesill and- 92,respec-i tively, at either side of the machine, Fixed from pinions 16and 27 through the corre spending shai't 28. There are. likewise, at

theopposite side ofthe machine,"two correr spending clutch mechanisms 31and 81 simi-l larly driven, forreversely driving the other tractiontread. Eachof these'clutchmeehanisms drives its own sprocket-drivingpinion 9301 93, which meshes with aparticularfendless traction tread.Thereby, by-throwingiin 'eitherjclutch 31 or 31*, at one S1Cl8=0f the machine, driving sprocket 93 or 93"? Wlll dr ve the particular tractiontread either forwardlyorbackwardly as desired. I J 7 By simultaneouslyand selective'ly throwing in either of the clutch mechanisms. 81 or.

an, at either Side ef 'the dr'i'ving e i and 27, it williloeobviousthatthe machinemay be advanced in a straightline either for-{weirdly or'* hackwardly-, or one l'tractiontread can be driven eitherforwardly orbackwardly while the other isat rest, or one; traction treadf can be driven forwardly while the other traction treadis drivenbackwardly. This it'will V be seenprovid'es, through the air cylinders,an entirely flexible and mobile distant con trol for the operationof themachine in takdischarging it there V, 7 I I I I a Referring now to theembodied form of the ing a load of coal or otherin'aterial atone point,transporting t to anotherpo nt and;

endlesstraction tread meeh'anism,eachtread runs overa rear supportingand guiding wh'eel 10 9, mounted loosely on an axle or, shaft-110,whicl1--shaft 1s mounted at its eX- ternal end either in thevertical side plate 91 or 92. The inner ends of the respectlve axlesllOaremounted in the inner vertical'ly-eX- tending andlongitudn'iallydisposed corre-,

sponding frame plate 112 or 113, which are fixed to and extend upwardlyfrom the bed plate 1 at eitherside "The forward supporting and guidingwheels 119, at'either side of the machine, are likewiseloosely'journaledoncorrespondingshafts 120, supported on.

oneside by the sideplates 91', 112 and-0n the other side by the sideplates 92 and 113.]. A

pair of wheels 121 are provided at either side for therespectivetraction treads,located in"? termediately of the wheels 109and119, prig inarilyfor the purpose of holding the bottom reach of thetractionitread firmly to the ground. These 'wheels are loosely mountedrespectively onshai'fts 122,

already described.

The-preferred specific structure of the end: less traction treads "andtheir sujpporting v wheels'is shownin Figs 1,2, 3 and 12. The" v wheelsare preferably very broad witli a pluh ,rality of spaced-apart,circular, medial "fianges123. The wheelshave. suitable roller bearingson'their shafts 110.

I supported in the respectlve side frames, similarlyto'the'wheels I i 1r 1 ,The endless traction treads themselvescon I sist of linksflexibly-joined together, having relatively flat tread members 131',andpivot-z ally connected 'side members 132' pivot pins maybe providedbetween the various wheels 133 extendingtransversely entirely through? aI set of the pivoted members of the tread ,(Fig; 12). "The flat treadmembers 131 are someof them provided with inwardly-pro- 'jecting aliningmembers 135'whic-h cooperate with the circular medial flanges 123 of thej v wheel, to keep the'treads' in a'linement upon 7 1 the wheel. Ifdesired, cleaning plates 136 to strip off allmud or other obstructingmatj 1 ter which may gather thereon when operatf ing in wetplaces or onsoft bottom; Supports;

"187'may alsobeprovidedVforthe .top reach:

sprocket wheels are beveled inwardly and is in a closed housing, veryclose to the floor,

: pusher blade within the shovel.

backwardly direction.

ofthe respective treads, and constitute braces between the inner andouter side frames.

The double sprocket drive for each of the treads is best shown in Fig.2, one sprocket being driven, through its clutch, from gear 16 and theother sprocket, through its clutch, being driven from gear 27, asalready described. The teeth of the sprocket wheel engage with the bareplaces 1S3 on the pivot pins 133, located intermediately the inner andouter traction-engaging surfaces of the treads, as best shown in Fig. 8.The gearing and drives are connected so that either sprocket for atraction tread in driving draws the tread through or from the othersprocket. That is, for example, in Fig. 2, the sprocket 93 drives in theclockwise direction, at which time the sprocket 93 rotates idly, and thetread will move its side of the machine in a The sprocket wheel 93 inFig. 2 drives in counter clock-wise direction, at which time thesprocket wheel 93 rotates idly, and the tread drives the machine in theforward direction. In either case, the

7 driving sprocket draws the tread through the other sprocket andthereby avoids any tendency there might be of amming the tread betweenthe'sprockets. thereby impeding or preventing the progi f the machine.The

outwardly fromthe center of the roots of the sprocketteeth toward thesides and center of the wheel, best shown in Fig. 5, which renders thewheels self-cleaning as they drive,

T all mud and dirt being pressed outwardly and away from the wheel.

A flat cover plate 138 is preferably fastened on over the entiremachine. Thus all the simple, compact and powerful mechanism and the tophardly higher than the traction trends a either side. The materialcarrier, or shovel, ects forwardly from, and e tends entirely across thefront of the machine,

including the treads, and the entire machine moves as a unit or entiretyduring the pushing into the pile of material to load, the wheeling outof the pile with the load, and the discharge of the load effected by aThe material carrying device, which may conveniently be styled theshovel, comprises a bottom 151 side plates 152 and 153, and thestructurz may be open at the rear. The shovel is nearly horizontallydisposed. and just clears the ground. the front edr toucl'iiu theground. it is preferably provided at its forward end with a plurality ofhardened points adapted to dip; into the material, and to support theshovel upon the ground. 'l hese points may be also carried upon theforward side edges of the shovel.

The shovel has no essential movement relatively to the machine so far asthe actual work of loading, carrying and discharging the material isconcerned, but it is deemed preferable to mount the shovel to have aslight relative motion, whereby it can absorb sudden shocks, such asstrikingheavy lumps of material, can better accommodate itself tounevennesses in the ground covered, and for other purposes. Accordingly,there is fixed to therespectivesice plates 152 and 153rearwardly-extending arms 155, 155 which arms at their rear ends arepivotally mounted on the external extensions of the shafts 110 of therear wheels 109, by meansof somewhat elongated slots 156, which permitvery slight longitudinal movement of the shovel and eases the'brunt ofendwise shocks.

The direct thrust and also any tendency to create side twist, incidentto driving the shovel into the coal or other material by the forwardtravel of the machine is transmitted directly from the body of theshovel to the frame of the machine, and is kept away from the arms 155and 1555- upon which the shovel is mounted. In the embodied form of thismeans, angle pieces 163 are riveted to the outside, rear bottom edges-ofthe shovel, and play freely in recesses formed in the forward edge ofthe bed plate 1 of the frame (Figs. 1, 2 and 9). Thus any shock of theshovel is transmitted directly to the main machine frame, and is keptaway from the mechanism.

Means are also provided participating in the thrust-absorbing function,and also for preventing buckling or climbing of the machine as theshovel is being driven into the pile of material in the loadingoperation. For this purpose (Figs. 2 and 9), one or more doubly angledpieces 16% are provided, having the bottom reach 165 of each rivetedtothe top surface of the inner or rear end of the shovel, and having avertical reach 166 and an inwardly bent or angled portion 167 at thetop, which overhangs the front edge of the bed plate 1 of the machine.In case the front edge of the shovel encounters too greatan obstacle forready removal, and the treads continue to drive the machine forward, thereaches 166 will engage the front edge of bed 1 and transmit the shockdirectly thereto, and the buckling action will begin between the shoveland the machine proper due to the pivotal mounting of the shovel. Thefront of the machine proper will rise until the front edge of the plate1 engages beneath the angled portions 167 of the detents, at practicallythe inception of the buckling action, and any further tractive effort ofthe treads will drive the shovel into the work.- This permits a somewhatyielding action and still transmits all of the tractive force intodriving the shovel forwardly and loading it. p

The embodied form of unloading means for the shovel comprises a pusherplate 173, movable to and fro within the shovel, at its retractedposition providing a back wall to i supportltheloadof material in thesh'ovel,.

and being movable forwardly to'eject the load from the shovel. Asembodied, 'a' verticallydisposed and preferablybackwardly slanting plate173 extendssubstantially entirely across theshovel butwith freeclearancetherewith- 1n. erably curved forwardlyfto form a hearing I 1 I orridingsurface onthebottom'of'the shovel. At the top edge. of thevdischarg'eplate there is preferably anupward ly and forwardly in Thebottoni end1750f this plateis prefclined .plate176, fastenedflto the 'discharge thedischarge plate, and fastenedgthereto by suitable means such assc'rewbolts 179. Fixed to'or integral with; plate. 17 8 are two gearedrack bars 180 and11'81, eXtendiiig' backw'ardly and substantiallyhorizontally into the machine, alongside theverticallydispose'dinnerframe members 112 and '113,'and are, Support; ed thereon by; suitableguiding means.

' Themeans for actuating thesegearedrack bars 180 and 181, to driveflthepusher plate 173, comprise a worm187, frictionally mount edjupon theforwardly-projecting end of the armature shaft3, se s to turn with theshaft 7 during theiusual" driving effort, butfcapable of slipping on theshaftfunder any sudden-or heavy strain. fTll' frictional ounting of'this Worm on the shaft will, therefore, prevent anyv stripping of agear I orjotherf violent. or destructive action in, case the dischargeplate'meets withflso'me hea-Vyobstructi'on.

i, 7 As e1nbodied,*tl1e worm 187 has flan enld bearing on a collar 188,loosely encircling the Y T armature shaft 3'between the end of the'wo rm,3 ice and a shoulder on the shaft; At' tli e'other 7 end of the worm187, arelatively heavy heliv cal spring 189 is coiled about the shaft 3,and

is in compression between the, .endof,'the

worm, and a nutl190, screw-threaded on the endfof the shaftf3,preferably with ans-"intervening Washer 191; By r gulatingam pressure ofthe spring189, the vworinthrough I the intervening connections willdrive the shovel disohargingfplate 174' against any ordinary load, butwill-prevent; damage Qfrom overload in the manneralready prescribed. Inthe embodied form of driving connections from theworm 187tothe-shoveldischarging plate 17 3 (Figs. 3,10, 11',an1d;12) ,"a

worm-Wheel 197 with its hub 198ericirclesa sleet-e199. Sleeve 199 isfixedto a: clutch memberor j aw. 200, and the clutch and sleeve aremounted tori-free rotation on a shaft 201.

Shaft 201 is journaled vinb'ea rings 202and- 203i1i frame-members'204;and 5 mounted 7 upon 'thebed'plate Two pinions 207 and 208 are fixedon-and rotate with shaft 201,

Y the pile of I against step 226.

andthese vpinions mesh, respectively, with the rack bars 180 "and 181,fixedto the shovel; discharging blade'l73. The rack bars at thispointmove in; supporting and guiding memibers209v and 210-, which servetoghold themto' the pinions 207 and 208, as "well as to guide themin'their reciprocatory niovementL Ll-he I rack bars have a slight 1rocking. movement 1 f tom of the shove-L In this structuregworm;

the ShiLftjQOl is normally at rest 7 v The. further embodied. means forconnect- I in a and disconnecting driving {worm wheel 19 anddrivenshaft201is preferably adaptedsfor distant control by an aircylinder and conduit cable and controls, as already indicated. For thispurpose, a sleeved clutch member or jaw 215. (which cooperates'withcular gro0ve 217,-into which groove project,

pins upon thenpper-yoked portion of a lever 218, which lever is pivotedat 219 upon the frame. Pi'votallygconnected to the lower end oflever'218at 220is arod 221, connected toathe piston of an air cylinder'222,which, 1 cylinder is: in connectionwith the distant control mechanism.

.-Thus, when the cylinder is undervpressure, ,the clutch members 200iand215 are thrown 4 100 ;;Wor;m wheel 197,1 pinions 207 and 208-, *gearrackbars180and 181-willfdrive thedi's charge plate 173 forwardlywithin theshovel and eject the loadofcoal vor otherimate' in, and the motor,through-worm 187*anfd rialptherefroml; It-eis notqnecessary tomechanically retract. the dischargev plate 173, as

Q about their pinions, so that the pusher blade V f if 17 3 mayridedownwardly,onthe slanting botvvheel 1-971rotates freely. with theworm 187,

clutch'jaw-200) is mountedonshaft201,by e 7 means of a key 216,:torotate with 'while having move ment along the shaft, Tolslide i clutch"sleeve1'215' it is provided with a cir-. V

when 'theshovel is again driven into thelpile of jcoalor other material;at the place of su-pply, clutch199215 has been previously dis iconnected, and the rush ofmaterial, into the {shovel will drive thedischarge plate back to a position whereit serves as a" backf wallqtoaerial within [Means arekpro'vided 1 for smechanically throwing outthefclutch 200, 215 atthe forfwa rd end of the stroke of the shoveldischarg y ing plate 17 4. In the-embodied form thereof,

a stop 227 is fixed on a bar'228, fastened at both of itsxends to. theunderside of1thecor-.

the shovel, restresponding geared rack bar 1181, by'means of 5 spacingblocks 229 and screw bolts 230,;In

the path: oft-he stop227 (FigsJG and 10) at ;the forward end of itstravel, is a bent "lever 233, having the end 234-of1one arm thereof in"position to be moved by the stop 227;,"and

having'a pivotal mounting at 235. The'other" end 236 01? thelevenabutson 'the 'lever;218 i of theiclutch'mechanism 200, 215. I Thus,ijust s asthe discharge plate173reaches the front v end of the shovel, lever 233is actuated, as described, by stop 237 which traveling with thedischarge plate, and lever 218 is rocked, and the driving clutch 200,215 is thrown out. The pusher plate is thus disconnected from itsforward drive, and is free to be pushed back to the rear end of theshovel by the incoming of the mateiual at the next loading operation asalready described.

In Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 9 of the drawings a standard commercial form ofair-driven motor is shown, and any other suitable or known form of airor other fluid pressure motor may be employed as found desirable orelii-cient.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13, a di'l'l'erentform of air motor is shown, whichmay be used if desired. In this form as embodied, a hollow cylinder 245,having a cylindrical wall 246 and a conical head 247, is mounted withinand in fixed relation toa concentric out-er cylinder 248. Cylinder 248has a conical shell 249, surrounding the conical head 247 of the in norcylinder. These two structures arespaced apart and extending across theintervening cylindrical space are plurality of spacedapart, helicalvanes 250, which may be parallelly arranged or otherwise. Spacing andstrengthening lugs 251. are shown in theconcentric conoidalportions ofthe two devices.

At the right-hand end in 11, a spider 254 is fixed to the cylindricalshell 246 and has a hub 255 concentric therewith.

Fixed in the hub 255 is a shaft 256, by a key 257, and a clamping nut258. .This is journaled by means of. a friction sleeve 259 in a bearing260 formed in a pillow block 261. Key on shaft256 a. rwhecl or worm 187,COIl'CSPOHCllIlg to the worm 187 in the preceding figures of thedrawings. Between the motor cylinder just describedand the bearing); 260is a thrust ball-bearing,havi race plates 263 and and a ser. ."I. 265. Apipe 267 is concentric with tne 256 at the opposite end of the motor.This pipe may be integral with the outer shell of the motor, and mayserve both as a supply for the motive pressure fluid and also one of thebearings for the meter. Pipe is mounted by a friction sleeve 268 abearing; 269 in a pillow block 270. Pipe 267 extends outwardly beyondthe bearing 26.9, and on this external part is keyed, by means oi. key271, a beveled pinion 4, corresponding to the pinion 4 in the precedingfigure of the drawings. A, hearing washer 272 is interposed between thepinion. 4 and 1e bearing 269. but if desired ball-bearing such as isshown. at the other end of the motor may be used.

For the purpose of supplying the pressure fluid,'a pipe 277 is nestedwithin the cute al end of thepipe 267, and its cxteri or end is threadedinto a joint member 278, having therewithin 'a conduit 279. this memberbeing supported on a standard 280. A packing gland 281 is provided atthe external end of the pipe 267 to insure a fluid-tight joint.

Any suitable form of governor device'may be provided for the motor, andit will be obvious that a governor of the ordinary centrifugal type,such as is used in steam engines could be connected to the motor shaft,and could control the supply of pressure fluid to the motor by anysuitable type of valve mechanism. As embodied, however, the governorcomprises a conical member 285, fixed on a longitudinally-movable shaft286, mounted within the conical head 247 of the motor.

The shaft 286 is longitudinally reciprocable which are movable bycentrifugal "force .cor-- respondingly as a speed of the motor, and willthereby move the conical valve 285 toward and from the plpe 267 toincrease or decrease the quantity of pressure fluid supplied to themotor, thereby governing its speed. Leaf sprinc's 300 act to keep valvein its open position by depressing weights Referring now to the embodiedform of the fluid-pressure distant control, it will be understood thatit is adapted for use either with fluid-pressure operated motor or withany other type or kind of motor. In the embodied form also 14 to 16).the

supply of pressure fluid to the motor is can ried through, and. iscontrolled from. the stationary distant control, although this is notessential so far as concerns many features of the invention.

As embodied the distant control comprises reel for the assembledconr'luitsis. provided,

which permits the conduitsto payout as tho controlled automotive machinemoves aw-av :and will wind up the conduits as the automotive machineapproaches the station.

In said embodied form,:a plurality of pressure fluid pipes 346 (five innumber in the present embodiment), are supplied from a common source,and these pipes communicate, respectively, with five concentric circular ducts 302, formed in a stationary, 'flat I circular head 303. Thestationary ductplate tua-tion of the valves for; the d fierentifpipes, 5

I 303 is fixed to or integral with a: concentric pipe 305, whichcommunicates, witli a pipe 306, supplying pressure fluid tothe motor.

having interrelations which will, on' the/one hand, permit desiredplural cooperative acand which will prevent any other plural operation'thereof. -These valve .mechanisms I Will bela-ter described.

In direct and fluid-t ght-contact with the plate 303 is a rotatable,flat," circular. plate 310, having a plurality of concentric circularconduits 311. Conduits'311 are in register re- 7 spectively with theconduits 302, so that-each, conduit 302 and the corresponding conduit311'constitute a single continuous circular by a friction sleeve to thereduced part i fastened to th 'ca'sing'f33o. Thisunwindin'g l flange 317of plate Q duits are pre 05 conduit, one half of which is stationary andthe other'half of which is rotatable I The plate 310 constitutes aportion of'one end of .spring-zictuated, conduit reeling and unreelingdrum 314. This plate is circularly sho'uldered into one head ofthe drum,which head terminates inaconduit-retaining flange 315.

A. similar flange 316 is formed on the opposite endof the-drum cylinder.

- The plate 310.hasanexternal-circularflange and fixed to theexternalfacethereof is a supporting member h'aving a fla-t, circular"flange-318, and prO ecting 'outwardly there I from a cylindricalportion 319, terminating? inafln circular'flange 320.- .This member f.

319 encircles an outward circular periphery ofthe stationary ductplate303, and flange 7 320 forms a shouldered outward retaining Themember 319andthe1 member and seal. 310 are bolted tothe'flange head 315of the drum by b'olts32l. Gasket rings 322 and 323 are provided toprevent leakage.

a The structure just described provides not only pressure fluidcommunication between the stationary and 334: of the frameftThe hollowbearing 333 3371' of shaft 331 at "338,

and the opposite fend of the 'springsiare and rewinding structure may beof anysuit j able-or convenient form;

a As previously stated,= :a11%ofthefiuidiconfer'ably handled as, a unitonjthe drums and to the automotive machine,;and

v i are preferably inclosed in ble casing 340 jwhich will a to Fig.

mechan sm wardlytogether; or one wardlyggor, one tread the rotatingparts of the}. mechanism, but it also provides a mounting j for one endof the rotatable jdrum; The other mounting for the drum, as embodied,come. prises a1shaft'331, projecting'fromthe op,- posite head 316ofwthe'drum, andfljournaled. 332 in a bearing 333, eX-f tending outwardfromthesupportingplate,

' plate 365 on the'machine structure.

the'cylindrical valve member 363 is a tapered, "conoidal'holewithinwhich is fitted a sub stantially fluid "ing an air space anarmored,-fiexi-. prevent compression and pinching of the conduit. Thereis a diagrammaticv representation of the arrangement' of the conduits ina single unit at 16, They pipe" 30 5;ff0ftll8 motor 345, and'each of theconcentric ducts 311 com-.

munica tes with acorresponding flexible pipe i v 312. These pipesare allcombined together as indicated at 340,.and pass'through an ori- .fice34:7 in the cylindrical body of thedruml The entire flexible unit,containing all the pressure pipes, winds onto and unwinds from V thedrum, as already, described. I

" Referring now to theembodied form with a suitable pressure relief, andmay be turned off at anytime attheconvenience of the operator beforereloading the shovel.

[The valvesfor the fluid pressure cylinders controlling the clutches lfor the driving for the endless treads .areinterconnected so thatthe twoclutches adapted A siinple valve 352* i the mechanical trip already-de=1 to drive a particular tread in opposite direc tionsmay not be thrownin't'ogether but either of theclutches driving one tread may be thrownin'with either'of the clutches drivor bacle,

ing the opposite tread. Thereby, both traction treadsmay be drivenforwardly treadmay be driven forwardly while the other is driven'backmay be driven either forwardlyor backwardly while the other treadisat rest In the embodied the clutches. for one traction tread are controlled by a single valve device, so thatboth' clutches niuynot beoperated together, and

the same is true for; the two, pipes 3&6 for the iiidescriptiouof one]suflic'c' for,

A pipe 361supplies pressure fluid into cylindrical, flatiscrewcap362,screwed onto opposite traction tread. I p of these valvemechanisms Wlll both.- Q 1 form, the pair of pipes 3416a; 3 16b forthepair-of cylinders governing the end ofastationary valve cylinder 363,

having a base 364 bolted upon supporting Within I tight valve cylinder35'?! i The member 36T terminates short of the outer end of the hollowcylindrical member leav- "and 37 6, eachof which connnunicatesfin allvpositionswwith the space 368." zTwo exhaust} V 368therewithin attnatend. i r In the valve men'iber 367 are formed two separate.flUICl-PTGSSUIG condults or ports 375 s

